Sam and Mary collect marbles. “If you give me 5 marbles I’ll have twice as many as you.” said Sam to Mary. “But if you give me 4 marbles wwe would have the same number said Mary to Sam.
How many marbles do they have altogether?

54 marbles

Step-by-step explanation:

The question is a word problem leading to a simultaneous equation

Let 'x' represent the initial number of marbles with Sam, and let 'y' represent the initial number of marbles with Mary,

If Mary gives Sam 5 marbles, we have;

x + 5 = 2 × (y - 5)...(1)

If Sam gives Mary 4 marbles, we get;

x - 4 = y + 4...(2)

From equation (1), we get;

x + 5 = 2 × (y - 5) = 2·y - 10

x = 2·y - 10 - 5 = 2·y - 15

x = 2·y - 15...(3)

From equation (2), we have;

x - 4 = y + 4

∴ x = y + 4 + 4 = y + 8

x = y + 8...(4)

Equating the two values of 'x' in equation (3), and equation (4), we get;

2·y - 15 = y + 8

2·y - y = 8 + 15 = 23

∴ y = 23

From equation (4), we get;

x = y + 8 = 23 + 8 = 31

x = 31

The total number of marbles they have altogether = x + y

However, x + y = 23 + 31 = 54

Therefore;

The total number of marbles they have altogether = 54 marbles.